Jota's career in numbers

Cardiff reject Everton interest in Zohore

Championship pace-setters Cardiff have turned down an enquiry from Everton for Danish under-21 striker Kenneth Zohore.

Zohore has also been a target for newly promoted Brighton and Hull City made a bid.

The Bluebirds say they are determined to hold onto the player however with boss Neil Warnock claiming it would take a bid of £30m for them to sell the 23-year-old, who top-scored for Cardiff last season with 12 goals.

One in at Arsenal?

The Gunners could certainly do with shoring it up at the back, couldn’t they?

15:39Adam Steel

One heading out the door at Newcastle

15:28Adam Steel

Fancy a bit of female footy this weekend?

If you’re feeling a strong urge to take a game in during the international break, recently renamed Boro Women are at home in the cup on Sunday.

They’re fresh from a thrilling 4-3 win at Wolves, the first of their new campaign.

Can another Boro side complete an early season double over Burton?

15:18Adam Steel

Former Boro striker Boyd blasted by Lennon

Oh dear.

Former Boro striker Kris Boyd has incurred the wrath of fiery Hibernian boss Neil Lennon up in Scotland.

You don’t really want to do that now, do you?

Kris Boyd has played for both Boro and Nottingham Forest (Image: Action Images)

Lennon isn’t happy with comments made by Boyd during his guest appearance on Sky Sports for Hibs’ game against Dundee on Sunday.

Boyd suggested John McGinn has played his last game for the Edinburgh club after another one of the striker’s former sides Nottingham Forest had a £750,000 bid rejected for the highly-rated midfielder.

Christie checks in for international duty

Best of luck to the full-back and to Darren Randolph, who have both joined up with the Ireland squad.

Two richly deserved call-ups after an impressive start to the season.

Randolph has been rock solid and enjoyed his best game in a Boro shirt so far against Preston on Saturday.

And Christie has caught the eye too, quickly making that right-back spot his own.

14:06Dominic Shaw

Movement up the road?

Can’t imagine Gayle would be short of suitors at the top end of the Championship.

He scored 23 goals in 34 appearances last season.

14:01KEY EVENT

A double signing for Boro

A couple of young additions to the Academy ranks.

Boro have just confirmed the double signing of Amadou Sylla and Jakub Sinior.

Sylla, 20, an attacking midfielder, played against Boro for Stade de Reims in the UEFA Youth League a couple of seasons ago. Indeed, he scored when the sides met in France.

He joins on a one-year deal.

Sinior, meanwhile, a 17-year-old Polish centre-half, has signed a two-year deal from Legia Warsaw.

The Riverside Stadium (Image: Getty Images)

13:48

#OnThisBoroDay

Heine Otto was the one bright spot in the dark days when Boro were slowly imploding and inching towards a terminal crisis. It was a shame we never saw him playing in a good side where his technical ability would have stood out and could be harnessed.

Holgate cult hero Heine is now a key figure in the coaching staff at the Ajax academy.

13:45Dominic Shaw

Thoughts?

13:45KEY EVENT

Jota perspectives - the Spaniard's situation in the final week of window

Being the subject of transfer speculation is nothing new for Jota whose fine form has seen him linked with several clubs in the past.

But will this be the week he leaves Griffin Park?

And if so, where will he end up?

We know Boro are keen, as are Fulham - who are now looking to replace the outbound Aluko.

Preston veto Hugill exit

Assertive Preston have just issued a short but blunt statement: Jordan Hugill will NOT be sold in this transfer window.

North End chiefs confirmed the Teessider has put in a written transfer request but says the club have rejected it.

Hugill - “the former Dickens Inn barman” - had been subject of interest from a string of clubs including Reading, Leeds and Wolves and slapped in his formal written request today hoping to force Preston’s hand. They have reacted assertively by saying he will not be sold.

12:23Dominic Shaw

A pre-match ritual, George learning Spanish and more

An entertaining Q&A with Adam Clayton, who says he wouldn’t getting into a scrap with Rudy Gestede.

That makes two of us.

12:11

Football for a fiver!

Outraged at the lack of football next weekend because of the international break? Worried you may have to go to B&Q? Fear not. You can get your football fix at Hartlepool.

Pools are finding it hard to acclimatise to the highly competitive world of the National League - the Conference in old money - but clocked up their first win yesterday at Guiseley so may be starting to find their feet under former Boro defender Craig Harrison and ex-Rockliffe fixture Paul Jenkins.

They take on Maidstone at the Vic next Saturday with tickets at just a fiver for adults and just a quid for Under-16s. Bargain.

Pools include ex-Riverside regular Matty Bates and young gun Jonathan Franks in the squad so there is quite a high Boro content.

Tickets are available on-line from www.hufc-tickets.co.uk or on the day.

Visiting Premier League fans give Boro the thumbs up

Boro fans may have airbrushed much of last season out of their memory by now but away supporters enjoyed their trips to Teesside - and not just because they usually ended up with a result.

The Riverside matchday experience was rated the third best day out in the annual Football Supporters Federation survey. That covers facilities, views, food, service, access, pricing, stewarding and atmosphere. Boro rated an average 7.48 out of 10. Which is not bad.

Swansea came top with 8 out of 10 with Southampton just behind. Brighton are nailed on to win this season I reckon. I don’t think anyone will be surprised to see the soulless bowl and horrible, hostile atmosphere at West Ham being ranked rock bottom by visiting supporters.

11:30Dominic Shaw

Hugill on the move?

The Teessider played well for Preston on Saturday, leading the line in impressive fashion.

But will that prove to be his last game for North End?

Reports this morning claim the striker has submitted a transfer request at Deepdale in a bid to force through a late move.

Wolves, Reading and Leeds have all been linked. Indeed, Reading were said to have a bid turned down at the weekend.

However, the Royals have now had a £7.5m accepted for Fulham’s Sone Aluko, according to Sky, with the player set for a medical today.

Adam Clayton battles Jordan Hugill in Boro's tough home game against Preston

11:28Dominic Shaw

A done deal in the Premier League this morning

Sparky has himself a new centre-half.

Stoke have this morning completed the signing of Kevin Wimmer from Tottenham for a fee believed to be in the region of £18m.

A fair bit to play for a man who’s played 15 games in two years for Spurs.

That’ll come as a blow to Tony Pulis, mind, who wanted Wimmer.

The Baggies, who saw bids rejected for Ben Gibson earlier this summer, are still fighting to hold on to Jonny Evans with Leicester having had a bid rejected this weekend.

Reports over the weekend claimed the Baggies want Eliaquim Mangala from City if Evans goes the other way.

The Frenchman previously looked set for a move to Inter on loan.

11:15

Villa tickets go on sale

Fancy Villa away in the league? It will be the first of two midweek trips to Steve Bruce’s outfit in eight days after also drawing them in the Carabao Cup.The league clash will be Boro’s first visit to the famous old ground since Tuncay scored twice in a 2-1 win in November 2008, just before Gareth Southgate’s side started to get sucked down towards the relegation zone.

Aston Villa ground

Tickets for the game on Tuesday 12 September went on sale this morning to season card holders. There are 2,700 up for grabs priced as follows:

Adult £30

Over 65 or full-time student £20

Armed Forces Personnel £20

Under-21 £17

Under-16 £10

Any tickets left will go on general sale will on Thursday.

Meanwhile, it’s ‘David Wheater’s Bolton’ next up after the international break and tickets for that away clash went on on general sale today.

The 2,065 capacity upper tier is sold out. Boro also have a 2,650 allocation for the lower tier for the short haul trip on Saturday 9 September priced at:

Adult £28

Over-65/Under-23 £22

Armed Forces Personnel £20

Under-18 £11

Under-12 £9

The last trip there ended with Jordan Rhodes dramatic last gasp goal - his second in the game - that kept the promotion bandwagon rolling and sparked #scenes of celebration and relief in the Boro end.

Jordan Rhodes celebrates at Bolton

10:51Anthony Vickers

International call-ups confirmed for Irish duo

Darren Randolph and Cyrus Christie have joined up with the Martin O’Neill’s 25-man Republic of Ireland squad. The duo were in the provisional squad but that has been rubber-stamped now after the weekend fixtures.The Boro pair are preparing for the Republic’s World Cup qualifiers away in Georgia (Saturday September 2) then at home to Serbia (Tuesday September 5).

Cyrus Christie in action for the Republic of Ireland

Berwick Hills Dael Fry steps up to the England Under-21 side for the first time. He joins Aidy Boothroyd’s squad as they kick-off their European Championships qualification with matches away in Holland (Friday September 1) then at home to Latvia (Tuesday September 5).

Meanwhile, Adlene Guedioura - who has been playing with the Under-23s this term - has been called up by Algeria for their World Cup qualifier in Zambia (Saturday September 2).

Good luck lads. Don’t get injured.

10:33Anthony Vickers

Today's back page

Today’s super soaraway steam driven paper edition includes a transfer deadline countdown checklist and Eric Paylor looks at some of the famous footsteps that new record signing Britt Assombalonga is following in. It’s great.

10:29Dominic Shaw

The bid to strengthen attacking options

Now if indeed Traore does go, it will further sharpen Boro’s focus as they look to bolster their attacking midfield and wide options before Thursday’s deadline.

Saturday’s draw with Preston rather emphasised the need to strengthen in that position.

With Traore not included, Garry Monk opted for Fabio on the left side and Lewis Baker on the right.

But with Baker struggling to get into the game, the home side struggled to carve out openings against an organised and impressive Preston side.

Stewart Downing goes close against Preston

Stewart Downing’s inclusion again suggested that the final days of the window may well result in a different outcome to what has seemed probably throughout the summer months where the winger is concerned.

He looked sharp and keen to impress when he came on, demonstrating what he can offer this Boro side.

Harry was no doubt disappointed to see Downing involved again. Could he be left frustrated in his bid to sign the ex-England winger?

10:25Dominic Shaw

And what about Traore?

Not included in the squad on Saturday and the subject of more speculation about his future since.

Lille are said to be ready to up their offer for the winger in the hope of landing their man before Thursday’s deadline.

Reports claim that Boro are holding out for ?15m for Traore - who excelled against Scunthorpe last Tuesday night but was then absent from the 18 for the draw with Preston.

Garry Monk has repeatedly said Boro aren’t in a position where they need to sell but equally he won’t want to keep players who are potentially unhappy or unsettled.

The divisive Traore has been much discussed and debated during his time at the club.

It seems those discussions will rumble on for the final days of the window.

Adama Traore (Image: CameraSport)

10:21Dominic Shaw

Any update on Shotton?

He remains a Birmingham player - for now.

Shotton was an unused substitute for Birmingham in the home defeat to Reading at the weekend.

We know the drill. Shotton wants to go and a deal has been agreed - but Harry won’t let him go until he gets replacements in.

Could one of those replacements be Harlee Dean?

Reports this morning claim the Blues want to sign the Brentford defender. That Griffin Park phone is going to be non-stop in the final days!